Intel Science Competition Winner Invited to State of the Union Address
The White House Will Host One of the Nation’s Brightest Young Minds
Jack Andraka, a young scientist and winner of the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, will attend tonight’s State of the Union address. The White House invited Andraka because of his early scientific achievement and his place among the nation’s next generation of leaders who will solve the problems of tomorrow.
Andraka, a high school sophomore from Maryland, was the top winner in the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a program of Society for Science & the Public (SSP), for his development of a breakthrough detection tool for pancreatic cancer. His patent-pending invention is 168 times faster, 400 times more sensitive and 26,000 times less expensive than current methods on the market today. Andraka received the Gordon E. Moore Award, named in honor of Intel co-founder and retired chairman and CEO, of $75,000. Andraka was also a semifinalist in the 2011 Broadcom MASTERS competition for his project: A Comparative Study of the Toxicity of Nano and Bulk Metal Oxides on Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna.
SSP, Intel, and Broadcom share President Obama’s belief that scientists should be regarded as role models, just as athletes and entertainers are, and that innovation and education are key to a successful future. In January, President Obama made history in the fight against pancreatic cancer by signing the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act into law, which required the National Cancer Institute to examine its current research efforts on cancers with very low survival rates, including pancreatic and lung cancer.
In addition to tonight’s State of the Union address, Andraka has also been invited to the State of STEM address on Feb. 13, 2013 at 10 a.m. Andraka will speak alongside Dr. John P. Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Todd Park, United States chief technology officer, at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC. An open Q-and-A with the audience, which will be primarily comprised of students interested in science, technology, engineering and math, will follow the presentation. Along with Andraka, five additional SSP alumni were invited to attend Wednesday’s events.
About Society for Science & the Public
Society for Science & the Public (SSP) is one of the nation’s oldest non-profit membership organizations dedicated to public engagement in science and science education. Established in 1921, SSP is a leading advocate for the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Through its acclaimed education competitions, including the Intel Science Talent Search, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Broadcom MASTERS, and its award-winning publications, Science News and Science News for Kids, as well as its recently released weekly e-publication for the iPad, Science News Prime, Society for Science & the Public is committed to inform, educate, and inspire.
For more information about SSP and its work, please visit societyforscience.org or follow SSP on Facebook: facebook.com/societyforscience and through Twitter: twitter.com/Society4Science. Become a member of the Society at societyforscience.org/join.